Shloka 13

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

रमयायास राजेंद्र दिव्यरूपा दिने दिने । राजापि मोहिनीं प्राप्य सर्वं कृत्यं परित्यजन् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

ramayāyāsa rājeṃdra divyarūpā dine dine | rājāpi mohinīṃ prāpya sarvaṃ kṛtyaṃ parityajan || 13 ||

Translation

O king, she delighted him again and again, assuming an ever more divine beauty day after day. And the king too, having obtained that enchanting woman, abandoned all his duties and obligations.

Word by Word

• रमया: by Ramā (the enchanting woman)
• रमया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; सहकारक/करणभाव

• आयास: went/roamed
• आयास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + यास् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः 'प्रययौ/गच्छामास'

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञाम् इन्द्रः)

• दिव्यरूपा: of divine form
• दिव्यरूपा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दिव्यं रूपं यस्याः सा); विशेषणम् (रमा/मोहिनी)

• दिने: in a day
• दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• दिने: day by day
• दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति—'दिने दिने' = प्रतिदिनम्

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• मोहिनीम्: the enchantress
• मोहिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); अर्थः 'प्राप्य' = having obtained/met

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कृत्यम् इति)

• कृत्यम्: duty, task
• कृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• परित्यजन्: abandoning
• परित्यजन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (राजा)

Speaker

Narada (narrating to a kingly listener within the Uttara-Bhaga discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Raja (the king)
• Mohini (enchantress)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It highlights how fascination with sensual charm (moha) can overpower discrimination, causing even a responsible ruler to abandon dharma and prescribed duties—an implicit warning to cultivate restraint and clarity.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By showing the danger of attachment to temporary beauty, the verse indirectly points toward redirecting the mind from मोहिनी (worldly enchantment) to the स्थिर-आलम्बन (stable support) of Bhagavan—where devotion steadies the senses and preserves dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily ethical (nīti/dharma) rather than technical Vedanga; the practical takeaway is dharma-priority—one should not abandon nitya/naimittika duties due to passion or infatuation.